WARWICKSHIRE fourths began their Inter-County Championship campaign with an encouraging 8-7 win in a tough encounter away to Gloucestershire seconds.

The top performance came from Coventry's Denesh Passi, who secured three excellent wins from four rubbers.

Passi stepped in as a late replacement in the men's singles and produced an excellent performance to beat Jake Wyatt 13-21, 21-17, 21-16. He then teamed up with Coventry's Dave Ingastone to win both men's doubles.

Coventry's Fara Moloobhai defeated Jeab Krachanghit 21-16, 12-21, 21-13 in her singles and contributed a ladies doubles win with Tracy Harris. The side could have secured a bonus third point after leading 8-4 with three mixed doubles matches remaining, but they lost all three rubbers and had to settle for two.

The thirds and fifths are in action this weekend at St Augustine's Sports Centre, in Coventry against, respectively, Worcestershire seconds and Wiltshire fifths.